Carrying cases



Nov. 6, 1962 J. B. ZIEMSKI 3,062,364

CARRYING CASES Filed March 2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOP JOSEPH B. Z/EMSKI ATTORNEY J. B. ZIEMSKI Nov. 6, 1962 CARRYING CASES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 as as INVENTOR JOSEPH B. Z/EMSKI Y *wf HTTO/Z EY ited States atent 3,062,364 CARRYING CASES Joseph B. Ziemski, Dudley, Mass, assignor to American Optical Company, Southhridge, Mass, a voluntary association of Massachusetts Filed Mar. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 92,901 6 Claims. (Cl. 20638) This invention relates to carrying cases and has particular reference to a purse or pocket-type case for supporting items generally of a personal nature in an orderly fashion and by means of which said items may be conveniently carried by the person.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a carrying case of the above character having means for supporn ing a variety of items in an orderly arrangement within the case and in such manner as to retain the orderly arrangement of said items during conveyance of the case while, at the same time, protecting the same from abuse.

Another object is to provide a substantailly crush proof carrying case having an easily accessible inner compartment embodying a unique compact arrangement of receiving and retaining devices each designed specifically for accepting, supporting and carrying personal items of a particular general configuration and nature and adapted to make said items readily and easily accessible.

Another object is to provide, in a case of the above character, a coin holder embodying means for readily receiving, supporting and preventing accidental displacement of coins deposited therein.

A further object is to provide as an integral part of the inner compartment of the case, novel supporting means for said coin holder which is constructed and arranged to direct the same generally to an upstanding position automatically as the case is opened thereby making said coin holder readily accessible without interference from other parts of the case or items carried therein while, at the same time, rendering said other items or parts of the case accessible substantially without interference from said coin holder.

A still further object is to provide a case which, in addition to bearing the above-mentioned features of utility, is simple and relatively inexpensive to manufacture, uniquely compact and aesthetically appealing in design.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the carrying case;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are front and rear elevational views re spectively of the case;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the same;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the case shown in opened position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken approximately along line 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken at a position indicated by line 7-7 in FIG. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows with portions of the case illustrated as being broken away to reveal details of construction.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, it will be seen that the carrying case of the invention comprises a main body part 10 formed of a pair of substantially identical dish-shaped covers or lids 12 and 14 having, by preference, rounded corners and upturned edges 16 and 18 respectively (see FIGS. 5-7) which when abutted with each other, provide an inner compartment for receiving articles intended to be carried in the case.

The lids 12 and 14 embody relatively rigid, shaperetaining inner sections 20 and 22 respectively (see FIG.

6) which are stamped or otherwise formed to the dished shapes illustrated. The sections 20 and 22 are preferably constructed of relatively thin sheet-steel or the like but may, if desired, be formed of moulded plastics, pressed fiberous susbtances or other well known relatively rigid shape retaining materials.

The sections 20 and 22 of the respective lids 12 and 14 are each joined together along and adjacent one of their upturned edges by an elongated hinge 24 (FIGS. 6 and 7) having its pintle 26 so located in axial direction and position relative to the joined edges of the lids as to cause the greater portion of edges 16 and 18 thereof to accurately abut each other when said lids are closed together as shown in FIGS. 1-4.

In a preferred form of the invention, the hinge 24 would be of the conventional leaf-type which is provided with an overriding spring 28 attached thereto functioning to urge the lids 12 and 14 closed when the included angle between the hinge leaves 30 and 32 becomes approximate ly or opened when the included angle therebetween at the side of said hinge facing outwardly of the case 10 becomes less than 180. That is, once the spring 28 is caused by manual operation of the lids 12 and 14 to reach or over-ride the 180 relationship of the spring leaves 30 and 32, it will tend to force the spring leaves toward each other in either the direction tending to close the lids 12 and 14 upon reaching the 180 position or the direction tending to open said lids after the included angle therebetween has become less than 180.

The hinge leaves 30 and 32 are perforated and secured to the sections 20 and 22 of the lids 12 and 14 by means of tabs 34 struck from the material of the respective sections 20 and 22. The tabs 34 are extended through the perforations in the spring leaves and thereafter bent so as to overlie said spring leaves as shown in FIG. 7. This type of attachment would only be applicable when sections 20 and 22 are formed of metallic or like bendable materials. In other cases, rivets, staples or other commonly known means for attaching the hinge 24 would be used. In order to prevent accidental opening of the case 10 by forces which might overcome the tension of the spring 28, a strap 35 is extended around the forward edges thereof and detachably secured to the sections 20 and 22 of the respective lids 12 and 14 by means of snap fasteners 35' or the like. The strap 35 is formed of leather or a similar flexible material and may be released at either side of the case 10 to permit opening of the lids 12 and 14.

The sections 20 and 22 of the lids 12 and 14 are each covered on their outer sides with a decorative preferably limp sheet-like material 36 (see FIG. 6) which is extended over the edges 16 and 18 and into the inner dish-like areas of the respective lids 12 and 14 where it is secured preferably with a cement or the like. The covering material 36 may be in the form of a plastic, fabric or leather or combinations thereof and might for example, be initially provided with a backing of adhesive material which would render it attachable to the sections 20 and 22 throughout its area of adjo-inment therewith. Also, it should be understood that the outer coverings 36 might be dispensed with provided the outer surfaces of the sections 29 and 22 are polished, etched engraved or otherwise decoratively treated.

A key retaining member 38 having key holding clips 39 of strictly conventional design and which, in view of the clear showing in FIGS. 4-7 need no further description, is secured to the inner portion of the lid 14 adjacent its upturned edge near the portion of the case 10 which will be referred to hereinafter as its top. The edges of the lids 12 and 14 are cut back along the top of the case 10 as shown to permit the key holding clips 39 to be directed outwardly of the case 10 by swinging the same in their guide slots 39' in conventional fashion when the lids of the case 10 are open. Also the cut-back of the edges of the lids 12 and 14 permits closing thereof when the key clips 39 are directed outwardly of the case if it is desired to use keys on the clips while the case is closed. Channeled reinforcing strips 12a and 14a are crimped or otherwise secured over the cut-back edge portions of the lids 12 and 14 to prevent abrasion of the adjacent covering material 36 by the key clips 39'. The strips 12a and 1411 are preferably formed of metal. The key retaining member 38 is rigidly attached to the section 22 of the lid 14 preferably by means of tabs 4%) (see FIG. 5) struck from the section 22 and which are passed through appropriate openings 42 in the member 38 and bent thereover to make the securement. Rivets, staples or other conventional securing means may be used to attach the key retaining member if desired.

The inner compartment of the case itl which is formed, as mentioned above, by the dished inner areas of the lids 12 and 14 is lined with a continuous single sheet of covering material 44 which extends over the hinged portion of the case and across the bottoms of the dished areas of the respective opposing lids 12 and 14. Also, the covering or lining 44 is preferably so contoured as to extend at least partially up the inner sides of the lids and to thereby overlap the portion of the outer coverings 36 which, as previously mentioned, are extended over the edges 16 and 18 of the respective lids. It will also be noted in the drawings that the lining 44 is arranged to conceal most of the part of the key retainer 38 which is connected to the section 22 of the lid 14.

Referring more particularly to the portion 46 of the lining 44 which passes over the hinge 24, it will be noted that said portion 46 is extended upwardly and folded back upon itself with a stitching 48 running thereacross adjacent and parallel to the hinge pintle 26 to secure the folded-over parts together. The portion 46 of lining 44, in this way, forms a tab part upon which is mounted a coin holder 50 to be described in detail shortly.

In order to cause this tab part 46 of the lining 44 to inherently tend to assume an upstanding position when the lids 12 and 14 of case are opened as shown in FIG. 6, the lining 44 is securely fastened by cement or the like preferably to all portions of the inner areas of the lids 12 and 14 which are covered thereby and said tab part 46 is further arranged to have its opposite sides substantially equal in length as measured from the hinge 24 upwardly to the fold 52. Furthermore, the lining 44 is selected to be of a flexible nature but rather firm and substantially non-stretchable. A relatively heavy close woven fabric having a plush finish on its exposed side is preferred, however, certain plastics, leatherettes or leather itself may be used.

The coin holder 50 is preferably formed of a moulded styrene plastic or the like which is relatively rigid but yet resilient and substantially non-breakable and is secured by rivets 54 to a side of the tab part 46 of the lining 44. In its preferred form, the coin holder 50 embodies a plurality of coin receiving compartments 56, 56' and 56 having elongated individually channeled parallel side edge portions 58, 58 and 58" respectivelv. The compartments are arran ed to have their respective channeled sides 58, 58 and 58" spaced apart in accordance with the diametrical dimension of the particular denomination of coins intended to be placed therein so that the coins will fit rather closely but freely between the respective channeled sides 58, 58' and 58" of the particular compartment 56, 56 or 56" intended to receive the same. For example, in the drawings, it will be seen that the channeled sides 58 of the compartment 56 are illustrated as being spaced from each other a distance approximately equal to the diameter of a one-cent piece and the front-to-back thickness of the channels in the sides 58 are such as to allow a plurality of onecent pieces or like particles to slide down therein in partially overlapping relation with each other as shown dia- 4 grammatically in FIG. 6 wherein the coins are numbered 60.

The compartments 56 and 56" are similarly arranged but specifically dimensioned to receive and support fivecent pieces and ten-cent pieces respectively therein in a like manner. It is pointed out that the coin denominations have been mentioned hereinabove for purposes of illustration only, it being understood that the channels 56, 56' and 56" may be arranged to receive and support coins of other denominations.

In order to prevent coins, once placed in the compartments 56, 56 and 56 from slipping out of their respective compartments should the coin holder become inverted from the positions shown in the drawings, a latching arrangement has been provided adjacent the open end or mouth of each coin compartment. This latching arrangement comprises a turned-in tab-like projection 62 (see FIGS. 5, 6 and 7) formed as an integral part of each of the channels 58, 58 or 58". The projections 62 may be formed at the time of molding through the use of a special die construction or may be formed after the coin holder 50 has been molded by heat softening the respective ends of the above-mentioned channels sufiiciently to permit displacement of the elastic material thereof downwardly and laterally an amount sufficient to produce the projections 62. A heated iron pressed downwardly against the ends of the channels 58, 58 and 58" between their opposite front and back side walls will accomplish this result.

While the projections 62 prevent coins from becoming accidentally displaced from the compartments 56, 56 or 56", the resilient nature of the channeled legs of said compartments permits coins to be easily snapped into or out of the compartments past the projections 62.

It is pointed out that the coin holder 50 in being attached to the tab part 46 of the inner lining 44 will automatically have a tendency to become erect or stand away from the lids 12 and 14 when the case 10 is opened as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. However, when the case is closed, the upturned edges 16 and 18 will adjacently overlie the open ends of the channels of the coin holders and will function to prevent displacement of the coins through said ends should the case receive a sharp blow as by accidental dropping of the case on a hard surface or the like. In this way, it is rendered easily accessible and, at the same time, permits easy access to other parts of the inner compartment of the case.

It is pointed out that, in the construction of the present invention, no complicated lever and/ or spring mechanisms or other conventional erecting devices are used to support and erect the coin holder upon opening the lids of the case. The combined supporting and erecting means for the coin holder 50 of this invention consists of nothing more than the novel arrangement of the foldedover portion of the lining material 44 which is stitched together at 48 to form the tap part 46.

As added features, the case 10 embodies an inner pocket 64 which is stitched or may be cemented to the lining 44 of the lid 14 for receiving articles each as identification cards, license certificates or the like and a clip 66 secured to the lining 44 in the lid 12 for holding paper currency or other similar articles. The clip 66 is formed of a strip of spring tempered metal which is provided with a hairpin-like shape and is secured in place by threading one leg 68 thereof through the covering material 44 preferably in the manner shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. With the covering material 44 cemented to the section 20 of the lid 12, as mentioned above, the clip 66 is held securely in place against the section 20 with its outermost leg 70 free but urged under spring tension against the exposed side of the lining 44. The free end of the leg 70 is upturned at 72 slightly to facilitate insertion of articles such as currency or the like thereunder.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that simple, efficient and economical means have been provided for accomplishing all of the objects and advantages of the invention. Nevertheless, it is apparent that many changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts my be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims and the invention is not to be limited to the exact matters shown and described as only referred matters have been given by way of illustration.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A case of the character described comprising a pair of cupped sections, means hinging said sections together, a lining of flexible material on the inner sides of each of said sections, said lining being secured to said inner sides of said sections and extended away from said hinge means adjacent opposite sides thereof to form a flexible tab internally of said case and means carried by said flexible tab for receiving and supporting articles to be transported in said case.

2. A case of the character described comprising a pair of lids, means hinging said lids together, a common lining of flexible sheet-like material extending over said hinging means and one side of each of said lids, said lining being secured to said sides of said lids and extended by means of a reverse fold upon itself away from and back toward said hinging means in the form of an upstanding tab part and means carried by said tab part for receiving and supporting articles to be transported in said case.

3. In a case embodying a pair of dish-shaped lids hinged together with the dished areas thereof arranged to be closed toward each other, a one-piece lining of sheet-like flexible material having an intermediate portion extending loosely over the hinged part of said case with its op posed portions attached to the respective opposite dished areas of said lids, said intermediate portion of said lining being directed away from and back toward said hinged part of the case by means of a reverse fold upon itself to form an upstanding tab part and means carried by said tab part for receiving and supporting articles to be transported in said case.

4. A case of the character described comprising a pair of dish-shaped lids having upturned edges, a hinge pivotally connecting said lids together and arranged with its pivotal axis disposed so as to cause the major portion of the respective edges of said lids to abut each other when said lids are closed one upon the other, an inner lining of flexible sheet-like material extended over said hinge and across the dished sides of said lids, said lining being secured to said dished sides of said lids and extended, by means of a reverse fold upon itself, away from and back toward said hinge in the form of an upstanding tab part, means securing the folded sides of said lining together adjacent said hinge and means connected to said tab part for receiving and supporting articles to be carried in said case.

5. A case of the character described comprising a pair of substantially identical lids having dished sides and upwardly directed peripheral edges, a hinge member pivotally connecting said lids together at one side of said case along a portion of each of their edges, said hinge memher having its pivotal axis so arranged relative to said portions of said edges as to cause remaining portions thereof to abut each other when said lids are closed one over the other with said dished sides thereof facing each other, a lining of flexible sheet-like material extending across and secured to said dished sides of said lids with its intermediate portion extended by means of a reverse fold upon itself, away from and back toward said hinge in the form of an upstanding tab part, means securing the folded sides of said lining together adjacent said hinge member and means connected to said tab part for receiving and supporting articles to be carried in said case.

6. A case of the character described comprising the combination of a pair of relatively rigid dish-shaped lids, a hinge pivotally connecting said lids together at one side of said case in such manner as to permit the dished areas of said lids to be closed toward and away from each other, an overriding spring on said hinge functioning to urge said lids toward each other to a closed relationship when so directed manually beyond a prearranged overriding position of said spring on said hinge and to urge said lids away from each other to an open relationship when said lids are manually directed away from each other to a point beyond said overriding position of said hinge, a continuous lining of flexible sheet-like mate rial having an intermediate portion extending over said hinge with the opposing portions thereof secured to the respective opposite surfaces of said dished sides of said lids, said intermediate portion of said lining being arranged to upstand from said hinge in the form of a tab part formed by a reverse fold having substantially equally dimensioned sides, means adjacent said hinge for securing said sides of said reverse fold together and means carried by said tab part for receiving and supporting articles to be transported in said case.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,185,359 Swanson Ian. 2, 1940 

